System for advancing a writing head for printer

ABSTRACT

For recording characters on a fixed recording medium, a printer writing head is advanced on a step by step basis by a pulse motor used as a driving means. A writing means mounted on the writing head is energized for recording when the writing head is at rest. Alternatively, the writing means on the writing head is energized for recording when the writing head is advanced by the pulse motor. Further, recording of the characters is made in recording fields or columns in accordance with a predetermined tabulation form, which can be changed, during either of the energized and deenergized periods of the pulse motor. In case that recording is performed in accordance with the established tabulation form when the writing head is advanced, a flywheel is preferably associated with a power transmission mechanism such as a shaft disposed between the pulse motor and the writing head to render the flywheel effect to the movement of the writing head to facilitate the tabulating function.

United States Patent 1191.

Kashio SYSTEM FOR ADVANCING A WRITING HEAD FOR PRINTER [75] lnventor:Toshio Kashio, Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Casio Computer KabushikiKaisha,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 247,215

. Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. Nb. 11,486,Feb. 16, 1970.

[52] US. Cl. 101/93 C, 197/] R [51] Int. Cl B4lj 27/00 [58] Field ofSearch 101/93 C; 197/48, 49, 82,

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,292,530 12/1966 Martinm.197/1 3,303,775 2/1967 Giannuzzi 101/93 C 3,308,917 3/1967 Stabenau etal.; 197/48 3,366,214 l/l968 Tutert et 101/93 C 3,428,793 2/1969 Scuittot 235/160 3,463,081

Levine lml 101/93 C 2 3 COUNTER 1 June 4, 1974 Primary Examiner-RobertE. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. T. Rader Attorney, Agent, orFirmShapiro and Shapiro 5 7] ABSTRACT For recording characters on afixed recording meaccordance with a predetermined tabulation form,

which can be changed, during either of the energized v and deenergizedperiods of the pulse motor. In case that recording is performed inaccordance with the established tabulation form when the writing head isadvanced, a flywheel is preferably associated with a Power transmissionmechanism such as a shaft disposedf between the pulse motor and thewriting head to render the flywheel effect to the movement of thewriting head to facilitate the tabulating function.

'6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures SIGNAL GENERATOR DECODER READ-OUT CIRCUITREGISTER PATEmEnJun 41914 3;814',011

PAINTED-1111141974 3.814.011

' SHEET! 0? 5 FIG. 4

FIG. 4B

" I L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 0000 OOO'O O00 000 ammibaun 4 m4 3 Q 8 14.01 1

sum u or 5 FIG. 7

- Azl FFzz , 1 I a SYSTEM FOR ADVANCING A WRITING HEAD FOR PRINTER Thisisa continuation of US. Pat application Ser. No. 11,486, filed Feb. 16,1970 now abandoned. 1

The present invention relates generally to a system for advancing awriting head for a printer and more particularly to a system foradvancing a writing head for apparatus for recording characters orindicia upon a recording medium under the control of an electronicdevice.

Various recording devices are used as output devices of computers. Onekind of recording device is such that there is a relative movementbetween a writinghead and a recording medium while recording charactersor indicia one .by one. Recording devices of this kind which aregenerally called printers, are classified into three types: the firsttype is such that a platen carrying a recording medium is moved; thesecond type is such that aplurality of writing or recording heads arearranged in opposed relation with a recording medium which is held instationary position to'record desired characters or indicia upon therecording medium by means of said recording or writing heads; and thethird type is such that a single writing head is sequentially advancedrelative to a recording medium held in stationary position to record thecharacters. or indicia. The first type of vdeviceimposes certainlimitations on the power means for driving the platen, because it hasmany mechanical-movable elements which are relatively heavy in weight.in the second type, the control system is much complicated and is veryexpensive. The third type to which the present invention can beadvantageously applied, shares the advantages of the former two types.

There have been proposed a wide variety of electronic and mechanicalrecording systems in which a rer cording head is advanced in therecording or lateral direction with respect to the recording medium forrecording or writing. As atypical system, the so-called ink jet printeris example in which charged ink is ejected electrostatically. Thepresent invention can be effectively. realized in such a system;However, vit should be noted that the present invention is not limitedto such system In a system in accordance with the present invention, apulse motor is used as means for driving a writing head. As is wellknown. in the art, the pulse motor operates in stepwise fashion so thatthe control system for driving the writing head may become simple inconstruction and inexpensive. Furthermore, the ink jet type writing headis different from a mechanical recording device utilizing a type wheelin that the writing head is very compact in si zeand light in weight so.that it may be effectively driven by the pulse motor whose drivingtorque is generally small, whereby the characteristics of the pulsemotor may be utilized to their full extent.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a system inwhich a writing head of a printer or the like is driven by a pulse motorso that writing operation is performed insynchronism with the rotationof the pulse motor, thereby improvingthe writing perform-:

ance. v

Another'object of the present invention is to provide a system foradvancing a writing head in which writing means incorporated in thewriting head is energized when the pulse motor is actuated so that eachof the characters or indicia can be recorded when .the writing head isadvanced, thereby attaining high speed writing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system foradvancing a writinghead in which the recording means incorporated in thewriting head is energized when a pulse motor is de-energized so that thecharacters or indicia can be recorded one by one when the writing headis at rest, thereby simplifying a writing control mechanism in structureand eliminating the dis-- tortion or deformation of the recordedcharacters, or

indicia.

in recording, the data derived from an electronic computer is generallyrecorded in two forms upon a recording medium. One is such that the dataare recorded upon a rolled paper in one recording field or column, andthe other is such that the data are recorded in a plurality of recordingfields or columns of a relatively wide paper sheet o'rthe like suchabills, registers, etc. Hitherto, special recording devices have beenused for different recording forms. The tabulating machines which arespeciall'ydesigned forthe later form are generally complicated in bothof construction and operation. The program applied to the tabulatingmachine must be modified whenever other tabulation forms are used, andthe use of such recording machines is limited to the special purposesuch as preparation of bills. Therefore the recording devices whichrecord the data on the former basis rather than. the latter basis andwhich are simple in construction have been widely used.

-A still further object of the present invention is therefore to providea system for advancing a writing head which is provided with a controlcircuit for generating one or a plurality of repetitive pulses fordriving'a pulse motor and a recording starting pulse in accordance witha predetermined tabulation form, whereby one or more of the recordingfields may be arbitarily established and changed in accordance with theselected tabulation form.

A yet another object of the presentinvention is 'to provide asystem foradvancing a writing head in which in order to record and simultaneouslytabulate the data at high speed according to the selected tabulationform, the characters orindicia may be recorded one by one during theenergized period of the pulse motor by energizing recording means of thewriting head-while the writing head isadvanced.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system foradvancing a writing head in which in order to record and tabulatethedata in accordance with the selected tabulation form and on the otherhand, to eliminate the distortionof the recorded characters therecording means-incorporated in the writing head is energized when apulse motor isde-energizedso that the characters are recorded in therecording medium one by one while the writing head is held stationary.

A still further object of the presentinvention is to provide a systemfor advancing a writing head in which wise rotation of a pulse motor sothat each recording or writing period may be accurately defined.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to thefact that the writing time can be accurately defined, the writing can beaccomplished at the time when the writing head is advanced so that thewriting speed can be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, recording orwriting can be accomplished at the time when the writing head is stoppedso that the characters having no stroke distortion can be recordedwithout the use of means for compensating for the distortion of recordedcharacters or indicia.

According another aspect of the present invention, the system of thepresent invention can be used not only in a recording form in which thedata are recorded in a single field but also in a recording form inwhich the data are recorded in a plurality of established fields andboth of the recording forms are capable of being selectively changed sothat the system of the present invention has wide flexibility as outputequipment.

According to another aspect of the present invention, recording orwriting can be made when the writing head is advanced and a desiredtabulation form may be arbitarily established and selected, therebyfacilitating the high speed tabulation of the recording data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, recording orwriting is made when the writing head is at rest and a desiredtabulation form may be aribitarily selected thereby facilitating thetabulation of the data with the characters having no distortion at all.

According to another aspect of the present invention,

a flywheel is associated with a power transmission mechanism between thewriting head and a pulsemotor so that the movement of the writing headcan be smoothed during the recording of the characters within eachrecording field and the tabulation is much facilitated by making fulluse of the features of the pulse motor.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description ofone illustrative embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system for advancing a writing headin accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) comprise a timing chart illustrating the timingsignals for effecting the operation of the writing head and for drivingthe pulse motor used in the system of the present invention;

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) comprise a timing chart similar to the timing chartof FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrating another example of the timingsignals;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory views illustrating the recording formsupon a recording medium, the data being recorded in one field in FIG. 4Awhile the data being recorded-in a plurality of fields in FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5 is a block'diagram of one embodiment of a system-for advancing awriting head in accordance with the present invention;

. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of a counter shown inFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of a preset counter shownin FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram partly in block diagram of a unit forreading out the content of an output register,

decoding the same and generating control signals for writing.

Referring to FIG. 1, a writing head 10 is carried by a wire 13 wrappedover pulleys 11 and 12 and may be moved from one end of a recordingmedium (not shown) to the other end thereof. Upon reaching the other endof the recording medium, the writing head 10 is immediately returned toits initial position (said one end). The writing head 10 in the instantembodiment is driven by a pulse motor 14 through a suitable powertransmission mechanism such as gear train (not shown).

The pulse motor used in the illustrated embodiment is, for example, a PMtype (permanent magnet rotor) motor in which a rotor has permanentmagnets and a stator has windings for attracting and repelling themagnets on the rotor by electromagnetic force established. A typicalpulse motor of this, type has four phases and is excited on thetwo-phase basis with 7.5 degree per one step, that is, 48 steps everyrotation. Such a pulse motor has maximum braking torque of more than 190gcm and maximum driving torque of more than 35 gcm.

The information read out from an output register 16 incorporated in acomputer 15 is applied to the writing head 10 as set forth hereinafter.The read out of the information is made by opening an AND gate 17 by asignal T and in synchronism with this signal a timing signal T isapplied to the pulse motor 14 to drive it. The signal for returning thewriting head 10 to its initial position by reversing the pulse motor 14is applied to a terminal RT. Because of the signal having a highrepetitive rate the pulse motor 14 can return the writing head '10 at aspeed higher than that at which the writing head 10 is advanced towardthe other end of the recording medium. Referring to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(1))illustrating the waveforms of the timing signals T and T used in theinstant embodiment, the writing head 10 is energized by the timingsignal T as shown in FIG. 2(a) while the pulse motor 14 is energized bythe timing signal T as shown in FIG. 2(b). As seen from FIGS. 2(a) and2(1)), both of the timing signals T and T have the same frequency, butthey are out of phase. At the time the writing head starts to write acharacter or the like and at the time t the writing is completed. At thetime t the pulse motor 14 is started and at the time t it is stopped.In' the instant embodiment, this timing cycle is is repeated.

As seen from FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the writing is effected when thewriting head 10 is, at rest and upon completion of this writing thepulse motor 14 is started. Assuming that the writing head 10 is at itsinitial position by virtue of the return signal from the terminal RT,then at the time t, of the timing signal T the information derived fromthe computer is applied to the writing head 10 through the AND gate 17so that the first writing is started. Upon completion of this writing,the timing signal T is applied to the pulse motor 14-50 that the writinghead 10 is advanced to a predetermined position (the-next digit) andstopped. The above described operation is cycled in thesame manner whenthe sec- 0nd writing is made'andsoon.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention makes full useof the feature of a pulse motor so that the writing head may write thecharacters'when the pulse motor is at the rest portion of its steppingmotion.

However, in a system in which a driving source such as the conventionalinduction motor is continuously operated, it is necessary that thecontinuous movement of the writing head be in accurate synchronism withthe writing operation thereof, so that the control system becomes muchmore complicated. In the system in accordance with the presentinvention, the writing head is advanced step-by-step as describedhereinabove so that without use of a control system each character maybe accurately defined. It will be readily seen that it is not essentialto write each character when the writing head is at rest; the writingcan be made even when the writing head is being advanced. This mode ofoperation will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3(a)and 3(b) hereinafter. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(1)) illustrate the timing signalsT, and T for writing when the writing head is advanced. Both the writingand advancing of the writing head 10 are simultaneously started by thetiming signals T, and T (see FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) respectively) at thetime t,. The writing is completed at the time of the timing signal T,,while the pulse motor 14 is driven until the time t, of the timingsignal T and the advancement of the writing head vl0 is stopped at thetime t,,. This means that writing is made while the writing head isadvanced. The relation between the timing signals T, and T describedhereinabove is only one example, and it will be understood that othersuitable timing relations may be employed in the present invention.

' In the system in accordance with the present invention employing apulse motor as a driving means of the writing head, there is asigificant advantage in that recording forms may suitably selected andchanged in addition to the advantage that the writing is effected byeffectively utilizing the stepping-motion of the pulse motor. This willbe described in more detail-hereinafter counting results may be derivedfromits output terminals.

FIG. 6 illustrates a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the counter501 in FIG. 5. A group of flip-flops FF,, FF, and FF, and a group ofthree-terminal AND gates A,, A A A, and A are arranged as shown. Thecommon input terminal C, of the flip-flop FF, is connected to an inputterminal i to which are applied count pulses. The reset output terminalR of the flip-flop FF, is connected to the common input terminal C ofthe flip-flop FF, whose reset output terminal R is connected to thecommon input terminal C of the flip-flop FF Thus the flip-flops FF FF,and FF, constitute an up-counter having the weights 1, 2 and 4. Thereset terminal r is connected to the reset input terminals r,, r and r,of the flip-flops FF,, FF, and F1 The AND gates A, to A are suitablyconnected to the set output terminals S and reset output terminals R invarious combinations so that a well known decoder is constructed. Theoutputs are derived from the terminals 0, l, '2, 3 and 4 as follows.

That is, the output is derived from the terminal 0 when the reset pulseis applied to the terminal r and all with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.As shown in FIG.

4A; a plurality of characters, as shown by circle, obtained by thearithmetic operation are recorded in one field L upon a recording mediumP. First the writing is made from one end of the field L to the otherend thereof along the uppermost row and then the writing is started fromone end of the field L to the other end thereof along the second row andso on. As shown in FIG. 48, it is desired sometimes that the informationis tabulated in a plurality of fields L,, L L L, and L as in the case ofbills, registers, etc.

In accordance with the present invention, a pulse motor is used foradvancing the writing head in order to control the movement of thewriting'head by the pulse signals so that the mechanism for advancing ormoving the writing head may be simple in construction. Furthermore atabulation form may be determined by the setting of electrical signalsso that the establishment and change of the fields or columns may bemade in a simple manner while the strokes of the writing head may bearbitarily selected. Therefore, the tabulation forms as shown in FIGS.4A and 4B may be made in a simple manner by the same recording device.Thus, the recording system and device in accordance with the presentinvention can be widely used in various fields.

counter 50] counts the number of pulse signals applied to its terminal1' and the signals representative of the of the flip-flops FF, to FF;,are reset and thereafterthe outputs are sequentially derived from'thedecoder output terminals 1, 2, Sand 4 everytime when one count pulse isapplied to the input terminal i.

Referring back to FIG. 5,'the output terminalsO to 4 of the pulsecounter 501 are connected to wipers I, to I, of field setting rotaryswitches DL, to DL,, through AND gates G to G and diodes D, to Drespectively. Each of the bank contacts 1 to 6 of the setting rotaryswitches DL, to DL5 are capable of being interconnected with therespective output terminals 0, l, 2, 3 and 4 of the counter 501. On theother hand, the contacts I to 6 are connected to numeral settingterminals 2 to 12 of a preset counter 502. It is understood that theabove described rotary switch mechanism may be replaced by an electronicregister but for the convenience of the description of the presentinvention the description is directed to the manual rotary switchmechanism.

The preset counter 502 sequentially subtracts from the preset number orcount establishedat numeral setting terminals 2 to 12 of counter 502 thenumber of pulse signals applied to its input terminals and the outputsrepresentative of the results of the subtraction are derived from theoutput terminals.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the preset counter 502.

I Flip-flops FF FF ,'FF and FF have the weights 1,

2, 4 and 8 respectively and the set output terminal S of each of theflip-flops FF,, to FF, is connected in cascade to the common inputterminal C of the next stage flip-flop, thereby constructing a downcounter. Fourterminal AND gates'vA to A construct a well known decoderby connecting the set output terminals S and reset output terminals R ofthe flip-flops FF to FF in a suitable combination. The output terminalsof the AND gates A to A are connected to the terminals 0, 1, 2, 9, l0,l1 and 12. Three-input OR gates 0 0 and 0 are connected to the set inputterminals s of the flip-flops FF Ff and FF Of the input terminals 2, 4,6, 8, l0 and 12 of the preset counter, the terminal 2 is connectedto oneof the input terminals of the OR gate 0 the terminal 4 to one of theinput terminals of the OR gate 0 the terminal 6 to the other terminal ofthe OR gates 0 and 0 the terminal 8 to one of the input terminals of theOR gate the terminals 10 to the other terminals of the OR gates 0 and 0amd the terminal 12 to the other terminals of the OR gates 0 and 0Referring back to FIG. 5 again, the output terminal for the count value0 (a predetermined count) of the preset counter 502 is connected to theinput terminal for the pulse signals of the pulse counter 501 so thatthe content of the latter is increased by one.

The output terminal is also connected to the output terminal SP ofrecording completion signals so that the timing signals T, and T (notshown) are stopped. The output terminals for the counted values I to 12of the preset counter 502 serve to read out the contents stored in aregister 503 from the output terminals thereof into a read-out circuit504. The content readout into the read-out circuit 504 is transmittedtoward a decoder 505 (which has the same construction as the decoderdescribed with reference to FIG. 8 so that no description is made) andconverted into the binary coded decimal codes. The decoded outputs areconverted into the control signals by an control signal generator 506whose outputs in turn are transmitted to the writing head 10 where theoutputs are applied to the horizontal and vertical deflectionelectrodes, thereby controlling the ink jet ejected from the writinghead 10.

In FIG. 8 are illustrated the output register 503 and the readoutcircuit 504 associated with the output of the preset counter 502.

In order to read out the contents of the digits I, to t, of the outputregister 03 in accordance with the outputs of the preset counter 502,the terminal 1 is conneCte d t0 gates G11, G12, G14 and G18, and theterminal 2 is connected to AND gates G G G and G Similarly, the terminal12 is connected to the AND gates 0, G G and G,,,,. The output terminalsof the AND gates G G12. G1,, and G,,, (where i= 1 to 12) are connectedto the input terminals of OR gates 0,, 0 0, and 0,, respectively whoseoutput terminals are connected to one input terminals of the AND gatesG,, G G, and G, respectively. To the other input terminals of these ANDgates G, to G are connected the common terminal to which is applied thetiming signal T,, The output terminals of the AND gates G, to G areconnected to the input terminals of the decoder 505 respectively, whichconverts the binary information read out from the output register 503into decimal information. The converted decimal information is appliedfrom the output terminals 0, l, 2, 9 of the decoder to the respectiveinput terminals of a memory matrix 800 in the signal generator 506.

Since the parallel type output register 503 is used in the instantembodiment, the read-out circuit 504 is constructed as describedhereinabove. But it will be understood that the serial circulatingregister may be used. In this case, the read-out circuit may beconstructed suitably for use with the serial circulating register.

The control signal generator which is applicable to the invention isdescribed in pending U.S. Application Ser. No. 882,057 filed by the sameapplicant on Dec.

4, I969. now U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,394, granted Oct. 3, I972.

The control signal generator 506 comprises a memory matrix 800 which hasa plurality of input terminals 0, 1, 2, 9 to which is applied theconverted information specifiying character or indicium to be displayedor recorded. In the instant embodiment, the number of the inputterminals are 10, but it may be increased or reduced in accordance withthe number of characters or indicia desired to be displayed or recorded.To the memory matrix 800 is connected a shift register for applying thepulse signals to the memory matrix 800 to read out the informationstored therein. As described in the aforementioned application thememory matrix 800 includes the programs constructed to store informationin the appropriate manner.

The shift register 801 is connected to a clock source (not shown) toapply a train of pulses generated by the clock source to the memorymatrix.

To the memory matrix 800 are connected an X- reversible counter 802 andan Y-reversible counter 803 both of which are adapted to read out thecontents in the memory matrix 800.

The X- and Y-reversible counters 802 and 803 which are adapted to outputthe counted values are connected to digital-to-analog converters 804 and805, respectively. That is, the output terminal of the X- reversiblecounter 802 is connected to the input terminal of XD-A'con'verter 804whereas the output terminal of the Y-reversible counter 803 is connectedto the input terminal of YD-A converter 805. The output terminals of theD-A converters 804 and 805 are connected to the writing head 10 to applythe control signals to the vertical and horizontal deflecting electrodesto control them for writing characters or indicia.

Next the mode of operation will be described hereinafter. When it isdesired to tabulate the data by using a plurality of fields L, to L asshown in FIG. 4B, the maximum number of characters to be recorded ineach of the fields L, to L is set. That is, when the maximum number ofthe characters to be recorded in the first field or column L, is six,the wiper I, of the rotary switch DL, is connected to the bank contact 3so that an instruction for six digits is set. When the maximum number ofthe characters to be printed in the second column L is eight, the wiperI, of the rotary switch DL, is connected to the bank contact 4 so thatan instruction for eight digits is set. In the similar manner asdescribed above, the maximum digits for the columns L to L may be set bythe rotary switches DL, to DL -On the other hand, the output register503has the data stored which are to be recorded in the tabulation form asshown in FIG. 4B. To the input terminals T, and T are applied the timingsignals having the same frequency but out of phase as shown in FIGS.3(a) and 3(b).

Upon application of the signal to the input terminal ST, the signalrepresenting the content 0 of the counter 501 is first derived' from theterminal 0 and applied to the rotary switch DL, through the AND gate Gand the diode D, so that the signal is applied to the setting terminal 6of the preset counter 502 so that the latter is set to the numeral 6.The signal from the output terminal 6 of the preset counter opens theAND gates G G621 G and G not shown so that the content of the sixthdigit of the output register 503 is applied to the input terminals ofthe AND gates G,, G G, and G, through the OR gates 0,, O 0, and 0,.Consequently, in response to the application of timing signal T, asshown in FIG. 2(a) to the input terminal T,, the signal read out fromthe sixth digit of the output register 503 is applied to the controlsignal generator 506 through the decoder 505 to generate thecontrollsignals to be applied to the writing head 10. Upon completion ofwriting the character by the writing head, the timing signal T isceased.

Then the timing signal T as shown in FIG. 2(b) is applied to theterminal T the pulse motor 14 is driven so that the writing head isadvanced bya distance corresponding to the space of one character sothat the writing head 10 is positioned to the next writing position.

The pulse is also applied to the input terminal 1' of the preset counter502 so that the content of the preset counter is subtracted by one,thereby reducing the content to 5. Therefore, from the output terminal 5of the preset counter 502 is generated the signal which opens the ANDgates G G G and so that the content of the fifth digit t of the outputregister 503 is applied to the input terminals of the AND gates 0 to Gthrough the OR gates 0 to 0 Therefore, in response to the application ofthe next timing signal T as shown FIG. 2(a), the content of the fifthdigit of the output register is applied to the signal generator 506through the decoder 505 to generate the control signals to be applied'tothe writinghead 10 for recording. ln the similar manner as describedhereinabove, the content of each digit of the output register 503 issequentially recorded. Upon completion of the recording of the contentof the first digit of the output register 503, the content of the presetcounter 502 becomes 0 so that the signal is derived from the terminal 0,whereby the signal is applied to the output terminal SP, therebyindicating the completion of recording of thefirst field or column. Thissignal is also applied to the input terminal of the pulse counter 501,thereby setting the counter 501 to I. When the content of the pulsecounter 501 is set to l, the signal from the terminal 0 is interrupted,but the signal is derivedfrom the terminal 1 and applied to the AND gateG Consequently, upon application of the recording start signal to theterminal ST, the AND gate G is opened and the signal derived from theoutput 1 of the pulse counter 501 is applied to the second columnsetting rotary switch DL through the diode D so that the numeral 8representative of the maximum number of characters is set in the presetcounter 502. The contents stored in the output register 503 and to berecorded in the second column are sequentially derived in the similarmanner as described hereinabove in response to the timing pulse T, tocontrol the writing head 10 for recording.

When the first or uppermost'row of the fields L, to L are recorded. thesignal is applied to the terminal RT for returning the writing head 10to its initial position. By this signal, the pulse motor 14 is reversedin direction so that the writing head 10 is returned to its initialposition and at the same time the pulse counter 50] is reset.

Now it is seen from the foregoing that when the maximum character numberfor each of the'fields are preset by the rotary switches DL, to DL thecharacters may be recorded in each field while tabulating the data inthe predetermined form.

So far the writing head 10 has been described as being at rest whenwriting is made and then advanced to the next writing position by thepulse motor 14. But it will be understood that writing or recording canbe made while the writing head is advanced by-the pulse motor by thetiming pulses or signals as shown in FIG. 3. in this case, it ispreferable that the pulse motor l4 is driven linearly rather thanstepwisely while the characters are recorded in the same field orcolumn, so that it is desirable to associate a flywheel 507 with thepower transmission mechanism such as a shaft of the pulse motor 14 asshown in H6. 5, thereby producing the inertia of rotation. ln case ofthe recording while the writing head is advanced, it is not required tostop the pulse motor 14 whenever one character is recorded. But in caseof tabulation the writing head must be stopped accurately to define onefield or column. The above described two requirements can be suitablymet by the provision of the flywheel 507.

The present invention has been so far described with particularreference to illustrative embodiments thereof, but it will be understoodthat the following variations and modifications can be effected readilyby v those skilled in the art:

I. The writing head 10 may be advanced from the right to the leftinstead of from the left to the right;

2. There may be a time delay between the rotation of the pulse motor 14and the movement of the writing head 10; and

3. It is not limited to record one character in one step of the pulsemotor 14. That is, two or more of the steps of the pulse motor may beused for recording one'character and vice versa.

What is claimed is:

l. A character recording system for recording char-.

acters on a recording medium in a plurality of recording fields, eachhaving one ormore character positions therein, said system comprising asingle writing head capable of recording for each recording field any ofa plurality of characters in response to corresponding character controlsignals and movable with respect to said recording medium to differentcharacter recording positions of said medium irrespective of theparticular characters to be recorded at such positions, prese'ttablecounter means for counting from a selected pre-set count to apredetermined count as said writing head is advanced through successivecharacter positions, associated selection means for successively pre- 2.A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said'character control signalgenerating means comprises means for storing data for controlling thecharacters to be recorded at the different character recording positionsand means responsive to the counting of said presettable counter meansfor reading out said data.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means for storing datacomprises means for storing data at a plurality of storage positions andwherein said .means responsive to the counting of said pre-settablecounter means for reading out data compris'esmeans for reading out dataat storage positions corresponding ill ing head is an ink-jet printerhead of the type which ejects ink electrostatically in response to saidcharacter control signals.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said writing head has apulse motor for incrementally advancing said writing head through saidcharacter recording positions in response to pulses applied to saidmotor, and wherein said pre-settable counter means is responsive to saidpulses for counting from said pre-set counts to said predeterminedcount.

1. A character recording system for recording characters on a recordingmedium in a plurality of recording fiElds, each having one or morecharacter positions therein, said system comprising a single writinghead capable of recording for each recording field any of a plurality ofcharacters in response to corresponding character control signals andmovable with respect to said recording medium to different characterrecording positions of said medium irrespective of the particularcharacters to be recorded at such positions, pre-settable counter meansfor counting from a selected pre-set count to a predetermined count assaid writing head is advanced through successive character positions,associated selection means for successively presetting said pre-settablecounter means to a plurality of pre-set counts for establishing thenumber of character positions in successive fields of said plurality offields, and character control signal generating means responsive to thecounting of said pre-settable counter means for applying charactercontrol signals to said writing head, said pre-settable counter meanssuccessively counting from selected pre-set counts to said predeterminedcount at each recording field as the writing head advances across therecording medium for recording characters in said plurality of fields onsaid recording medium in response to said character control signals. 2.A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said character control signalgenerating means comprises means for storing data for controlling thecharacters to be recorded at the different character recording positionsand means responsive to the counting of said pre-settable counter meansfor reading out said data.
 3. A system as set forth in claim 2, whereinsaid means for storing data comprises means for storing data at aplurality of storage positions and wherein said means responsive to thecounting of said pre-settable counter means for reading out datacomprises means for reading out data at storage positions correspondingto the character recording positions in said plurality of recordingfields.
 4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said associatedselection means comprises a plurality of counter pre-setting means eachcapable of pre-setting said pre-settable counter means to differentpre-set counts and means including another counter means advanced inresponse to said predetermined count for rendering said plurality ofcounter pre-setting means sequentially effective to pre-set saidpre-settable counter means.
 5. A system as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid writing head is an ink-jet printer head of the type which ejectsink electrostatically in response to said character control signals. 6.A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said writing head has a pulsemotor for incrementally advancing said writing head through saidcharacter recording positions in response to pulses applied to saidmotor, and wherein said pre-settable counter means is responsive to saidpulses for counting from said pre-set counts to said predeterminedcount.